The Alberta oilsands better have some good public relations staff on hand.
After Syncrude was set to pay the $3 million for penalty for the deaths of 1,600 ducks, more than 200 have been discovered at three separate plants, Syncrude, Suncor and Shell, over the last four days.
Being from Fort McMurray, I have been following the news for the oilsands, and I’m doing my best to stay positive and say it isn’t “all bad.” It is becoming difficult with all the incidents occurring since 2008.
In April 2008, 1,600 ducks were found in a Syncrude tailings pond. This is what I think began to trigger the world’s anger about what was going on, or what people believe is going on.
Since the incident, there have been several actions taken by not only by North America but the whole world. The anti-Alberta travelling company, Rethink Alberta, has probably been one of the biggest critics of the province.
Their website homepage has a pledge for those to take to boycott the oilsands. This includes statements like, “Take the pledge not to visit Alberta and tell your friends and family to do the same” and the pledge is encouraging people not to go to Alberta until there is no more oilsands expansion, and to get the economy to transition from depending on the oilsands.
This is all according to Rethink Alberta’s website, http://rethinkalberta.com/main.php .
Rethink is also putting up billboards all over the U.S. and U.K.
This is just my own opinion, but where does the world plan on getting it’s oil from? If Alberta just stops all production from all the plants, the world is going to be in for a big surprise.
I think the plants should stop production, just for a day and let the world get what they’ve been striving for then watch them panic.
Most recently Canada’s number one resource is being referred to as “dirty” by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The most recent event, from Monday are more than likely going to cause more controversy within the province and in the world.
I would like to acknowledge the effort the Alberta government has been doing to get Alberta back on track and back to a positive outlook.